A GLOVE STORY
Boxing trainer and ESPN2 fight analyst Teddy Atlas is relentless in assisting those in need. After bringing together 1,400 of his “closest friends” who contributed to the Dr. Theodore Atlas Dinner last Thursday, the Staten Island native went back in the streets.
For Thanksgiving, he enlisted the help of two-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer to deliver over 14,000 pounds of food, turkeys and all the trimmings. Before turkey day, a group assisted by Teddy’s aides de camp Kathy Zito and Michael Sweeney began the morning by shopping for more than 300 families. Every item that would appear on our own table was supplied to these folks in need. Turkey, potatoes, corn, green beans, yams and gravy, dinner rolls and apple cider.
A friend of the foundation who was helped two years back is now giving back. Gary Tropiano, double leg amputee, now owns a bakery and gave the foundation 300 pumpkin pies at cost. Moorer quietly loaded cars and made deliveries to churches without ever telling a soul he was a heavyweight champ.
“We drop 50 off to a Baptist church,” Atlas tells The Insiders. “The pastor said not only does the Atlas Foundation deliver food, they have the ex-heavyweight champ of the world doing it.
“What I refuse to do is do it for the sake of doing it,” Atlas adds. “We make sure we identify the families by doing the advance work. Families that really have a need but want to be able to have Thanksgiving represent what it should represent.”
The Atlas Foundation also joined forces with Gallagher’s Steak House to supply turkeys to God’s Love We Deliver in Manhattan, a group that assists the seriously ill. Teddy stopped by with legendary trainer Lou Duva and boxers who will appear on Saturday’s Heavyweight Collision card at the Garden featuring Vitali Klitschko vs. Kirk Johnson.
Pinheads
Walter Ray Williams Jr., Pete Weber and New York natives Patrick Allen and Rudy Kasimakis, along with other PBA Tour stars, are bowling for championships and a good cause. Odor-Eaters, a sponsor of the tour, will donate $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for every 300 game bowled during the finals of every tournament on the 2003-04 PBA Tour season. The PBA is in town this weekend for the PBA Geico Open in West Babylon.
McLT
During the depths of his drug despair, Lawrence Taylor feasted on double quarter-pounders from McDonald’s – and women. “Within a three-month period, I spent around $70,000 on escorts,” LT says in “LT: Over The Edge” with Insider Steve Serby. “It could’ve been $90,000. I’ve always been an I-buy, everybody-have-fun type person.” LT will be featured tonight on “60 Minutes” with Mike Wallace and will appear next Friday at noon in Rockefeller Center (Barnes and Noble) for a signing. “After reading the book,” LT’s agent, Mark Lepselter, says, “people will see a hilarious and human side of Lawrence Taylor they never knew existed. And when they watch ’60 Minutes,’ they’ll be awestruck.”
Pitching Pete
Pete Harnisch wants one last shot and he told us he is all the way back from the Tommy John surgery he had April, 2002. Harnisch, 37, has regained his velocity, something he didn’t have last year in the Reds’ minor-league system. Four teams have already shown interest in Harnisch, who he is willing to sign a make-good contract. “I feel great,” says the former Fordham star. “I really think I can help someone.” Harnisch has always been self-motivated, but he is looking for one final success story because he wants to show his 31/2-year-old son Jack what daddy does for a living.
Fireman Fund
He has only eight saves the last four years but John Franco will be become a fireman in the truest sense. Buitoni, the pasta company, and Engine Company 10 will present Franco with their own “Fireman of the Year” award at the Liberty Street Firehouse near Ground Zero Thursday. Franco has been tireless in his efforts to assist city firefighters and their families since 9/11. Buitoni will donate 50,000 pounds of pasta to firehouses in the five boroughs. On Saturday, St. John’s baseball coach Ed Blankmeyer will host a baseball clinic at the Queens campus in Jamaica and Franco will appear. For more, go to http://www.RedStormSports.com.
Love Birds
Nick Lachey and pals arrived at ESPN Zone Times Square to check out the big USC/UCLA game last Saturday. Lachey, friends and a film crew from the MTV sitcom, “Newlyweds” entered the “Bristol Suite” to enjoy the game. Lachey and pals dined on some ESPN Zone classics such as spinach/artichoke dip, Buffalo wings, nachos n’ cheese and salads. Lachey, a big USC fan was extremely happy as his team destroyed UCLA, and then was joined by his wife, the lovely Jessica Simpson, for a nightcap. They stayed late.
Postscripts
Sports is its best on the community level. That’s why friends will gather this Friday at the Kenilworth Veterans Center in Kenilworth, N.J. to help Springfield police officer Scott Brokaw, a 21-year veteran of the force who is afflicted with Parkinson’s disease and facing early retirement. Full lifetime medical benefits don’t kick in until after 25 years and Scott, whose family has been active in sports in the community for generations, is staring at financial peril. For a great party (only $25) and more information, call (908) 276-9769 or send donations to the Scott Brokaw Fund, 33 South 21st Street, Kenilworth, N.J., 07033 . . . Al Leiter and LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam will be honored at the 20th Annual Sports Luncheon to benefit the March of Dimes of Greater New York Wednesday and to raise money for the March of Dimes’ newly-launched five-year, $75-million Prematurity Campaign to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of prematurity and infant mortality.
